Officials visit encroachment-hit catchment areas of the Anayirankal dam and 301 Colony in Chinnakkanal

A high level revenue team inspecting the Chinnakkanal area on Saturday | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Temporary sheds erected on the catchment area at Anayirankal dam near Chinnakkanal | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement A high-level official team led by Land Revenue Commissioner H. Dineshan, Idukki District Collector Dineshan Cheruvat, and Devikulam Sub-Collector V.M. Arya inspected the encroachment-hit catchment areas of the Anayirankal dam and 301 Colony in Chinnakkanal on Saturday. The inspection follows a recent report submitted by the Forest department to the Revenue department flagging large-scale encroachment on government land across 301 Colony and the Anayirankal catchment areas.According to officials, the Devikulam Range Officer had earlier submitted a report stating that a resident of Rajakumari encroached on two hectares of land within the dam catchment area. The encroacher reportedly erected fences, pitched tents, and built treehouses, bathrooms, and other temporary shelters to host tourists overnight. In addition, an illegal trekking route was being operated between the catchment area and 301 Colony—a regular habitat frequented by a herd of 17 wild elephants. Officials stressed that the unauthorised construction obstructed vital elephant passages leading to the dam.The range officer’s letter also highlighted that late-night parties and tourist accommodation along the wildlife paths pose a severe safety hazard. “This area is the regular habitat and movement corridor for wild elephants,” the letter warned, noting that commercial activity here could trigger major human-wildlife encounters at any moment.“The land is under the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), which pays land tax to the Chinnakkanal village office, and no private individual holds ownership rights over it. All illegal structures and tree huts in the catchment area must be dismantled,” said the letter.Eviction proceedings soonRevenue officials confirmed that eviction proceedings against the encroachers will begin soon. Sources noted that tribal residents have also linked the fences and blocked corridors directly to the rising number of fatal human-elephant conflicts in Chinnakkanal.“The catchment area of the Anayirankal dam is a prime elephant habitat,” a forest official said. “Tourism activities, illegal farming, and solar fencing disrupt their movement, leading to recurring conflicts. Unless these encroachments are evicted, the issue cannot be resolved.”Officials added that outsiders have been taking land from tribal families in 301 Colony on lease to run unauthorised cardamom plantations. During Saturday’s inspection, local residents formally complained to the visiting officials about encroachment on their land by outsiders and demanded immediate evictions.Murukeshan, a resident of the Panthadikkalam tribal settlement and a member of the collector-appointed committee studying issues in Chinnakkanal, noted that encroachers had erected solar fences and iron barricades across active elephant corridors. He urged the district administration to clear all illegal encroachments across the region without delay. Published - October 31, 2026 08:21 pm IST